Healed by needles, not knives

Veterinarian Loren Weaver helps horses, dogs with acupuncture

Veterinarian Loren Weaver helps horses, dogs with acupuncture

December 29, 2006|DL PERRIN Tribune Correspondent

The early morning mist was still clinging to the meadow out behind the veterinary clinic in rural Constantine. A couple of trucks with horse trailers in tow ambled down the long driveway and ran up onto the flat pasture back by the examination barn. The horses, anxious to stretch, whinnied and stomped in protest. Around the corner came an 8-month-old pony with its head tossing, rear hocks knocking and front legs landing unsteadily, as if the ground was undulating. Neil and Debbie Hannewyk of Niles frowned with concern for their young charge. With a soft greeting to the Hannewyks, veterinarian Loren Weaver walked over to the barn to begin his day. "Neil, can you walk her around once more and let me get another good look at her?" Dr. Weaver asked. He studied the little creature carefully as he bent to put on his coveralls and laid out his examination tools on a bale of hay. He then began running both his hands across the animal's back and haunches. Then he began pushing deeply into the muscles with his palms, fingers and knuckles. The pony leaned into his touch. After a few moments, Weaver loaded his hand with acupuncture needles and began rapidly placing them deeply into the pony's back and haunches. Some needles made the muscles twitch and others made them jump. As the pony stood patiently, Weaver bent down and placed his shoulders under her head and began to slowly twist her neck until a loud rumble of bones popping into line broke out. The pony snorted and noticeably relaxed. "Take her out again and walk her around," Weaver asked. "Let's see if we've done her any good." The still-unsteady pony's front feet now were landing more securely on the ground. "Yeah, a few more treatments and we should see some improvement," he said. Next up was a dog whose back limbs splayed out at awkward angles from the hips. Cheyenne had been hit by a car months ago. "I've been bringing our horses here to Doc Weaver for years and I finally talked my dad into letting me bring his dog to see what Doc can do for her," said Natalie Overholt of Burr Oak. "I believe in him. He does wonderful work with animals." Weaver began placing the acupuncture needles along Cheyenne's spine. As he placed the final needle, one of the dog's spaghetti limp legs tightened up and bent under her belly like a normal knee. Next, Weaver went for her neck and began pushing around her shoulders. "She really got hit hard in the front end too, poor old girl," the veterinarian said. "Yeah, I know that hurts but only for a few more minutes," he told Cheyenne, who was snarling and trying to bite. A few more deep jabs with his hands and the dog went from a snarl to a smile with a lolling tongue and a happily wagging tail. The transformation was amazing. "I knew he could help her," said Overholt. "It will be a long time before she walks again, but I bet she does." It is this kind of faith that makes Weaver one of the busiest vets in the country. He consults at clinics, teaches techniques, continues his own education and makes hundreds of tri-state house calls when he isn't in Arizona. At 59, he shows no sign of slowing down. Weaver was inspired to become a vet while growing up on his family's dairy farm in Wakarusa. He earned his veterinarian degree from Purdue University after living on a huge cattle ranch in Kenya. Then he went back to Africa for four more years where, because of limited access to drugs and supplies, he learned to enlist more acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal treatments, thus setting the foundation for his continued interest in those fields of study. Weaver said he began using chiropractic and acupuncture treatments simply because it works. "It is not widespread at this time, but it is becoming more popular," he added. "Any animal with a spine is susceptible to back problems, which are too easily masked with drugs instead of cured." His wife and office manager, Kristine Weaver, has seen it work. "If you watch his face when he approaches the animal, he is totally focused on the animal," she said. "He looks deep into their eyes to detect the problem and communicate his intentions, so the animal will relax and trust him." Weaver prefers to work on horses, with dogs a second favorite. He said the difference in treatment is that most horses come to see him at their peak and most family dogs are brought to him in their old age, with the owner wanting to extend their life a few more years. "The dogs are always in the worst shape," Weaver said. Besides the acupuncture, chiropractic and regular veterinary services, Weaver believes in a healthy diet and herbal supplements. Patty Walsh of South Bend drives her Irish setter "Seeger" up to see Weaver monthly. Her regular vet recommended Weaver when the setter came down with a severe case of hip dysplasia and arthritis. "He has made Seeger's life livable," Walsh said. Her dog used to be so stiff and in such pain, but now he is loose and happy, she said. She'll never forget the first time she saw the results of Weaver's adjustment. "He was adjusting Seeger and putting a lot of pressure on his back and hips," she said. "I was worried he was hurting him. Then I heard this loud crack and Seeger let out the longest, strongest sigh I have ever heard. I was looking at a pain-free dog."